December 19-27, 2011: Sing-A-Long Sound of Music, Caroling, Winter Solstice Bonfires, Xmas Day Alternatives, Outdoor Hannukah, & Xmas Night Lights, Hot Tub Giveaway!
12/18/11 by
Johnny Monsarrat
This Week in Review
It’s not just about Christmas this week! Yes, I’ve got some non-churchy caroling ideas, but also nature hikes and bonfires for the winter solstice and a bunch of off-beat stuff if you don’t celebrate, or if you do but want an excuse to get out of the house with your family.
And don’t forget that I list more nighttime Christmas light displays in New England than anyone else — just scroll all the way to the bottom to see. I hope you are having an awesome week. Now get out there and do something fun!
-Johnny
The Week in Weird
East Heaven Hot Tub – tix giveaway
Sat 1/1 – Mon 1/31
What’s better than hot tubbing? The magnificent rooftop hot tub at East Heaven, which offers a variety of massage, too. I’m giving away a hal… 33 West St, Northampton, MA. 
Sing-a-Long Sound of Music
Mon 12/26 – Fri 12/30
The Sound of Music, the classic musical is being shown in Arlington along with printed lyrics so you can sing along. How fun!! And it’s happenin… Regent Theatre, Arlington, MA.
Christmas Eve Caroling – Louisburg Square on Beacon Hill
Sat 12/24
But for singing I might suggest going to Louisburg Square in… Beth Ketterson, 617-854-9019, or Mary Jane Sawyer, 781-444-5119.20 Louisburg Square, Boston, MA.
Explore Jewish Boston by Foot on Christmas Day
Sun 12/25
You wanna see some Jewish history? You could do woise! It’s a walking tour of Beacon Hill. 2011: 2pm with … 866-939-2557.Meet at Milk St near Devonshire St, Boston, MA.
Winter Solstice & Revels at the Harvard Museum of Natural History
Wed 12/21
Wow! Performers from Revels will dance in the horn exhibit wearing antlers and… do you need to know more? 5-8pm. Cambridge, MA.
Winter Solstice Celebration (Norfolk)
Thu 12/22
A fire — presumably outdoors — with stores, songs, snacks, and cider. 6-8pm. Stony Brook Sanctuary, 108 North St, Norfolk, MA.
Welcome Winter Solstice
Thu 12/22
This nature hike also comes with a fire — sounds indoorsy — with cocoa and cookies. 6:30-8pm. Oak Knoll Sanctuary, 1417 Park St, Attleboro, MA.
Solstice Celebration at Arcadia
Wed 12/21
There’s a bonfire at this one. I love bonfires but I haven’t seen one since I was a kid. I really want to go! 6-8:30pm. Arcadia, 127 Combs Road, Easthampton, MA.
Snowfire
Wed 12/21
What is this? I don’t really get it. It’s an outdoor bonfire and parade with costumed characters promenade, there’s hot chocolate and cookies, caroling, and presumably a fire. Amelia Park, Westfield, MA.
Winter Solstice Celebration at Stonehenge USA
Wed 12/21
I’ve been to this place and the stone blocks are most likely a hoax. But it’s fun and weird, and they have an alpaca farm. T… 603-893-8300.105 Haverhill Road, Salem, NH.
Boxborough Winter Solstice Sunrise
Wed 12/21
This one sounds really beautiful, if you’re able to get up this early. At a state park, watch the sun rise through s… 978-443-5588.Half Moon Meadow Brook, Depot Rd, Boxborough, MA.
Ski Resorts open for Xmas Day, like Okemo
Sun 12/25
There are most likely many ski resorts open Xmas Day. Here’s one. Call your favorite ski resort if you have one. Various Locations, Ludlow, VT.
Ho Ho Holidays
Messiah Sing at Portsmouth, NH
Tue 12/20
Join a community and sing-a-long to Handel’s “Messiah”. Website says bring your own score?? Um, for $14, you’ll be handing out scores, … The Music Hall, 28 Chestnut St, Portsmouth, NH.
Holiday Caroling on High Street Hill
Sat 12/24
It’s not too late for Xmas caroling! This one is always Christmas Eve at 5:45pm on the Upland Road Green. It’s been happening for 30 years at t… Upland Road Green, Brookline, MA.
A Caroling Party, with Libana
Mon 12/19
And here’s one if you prefer to stay indoors. 7-9pm. Third Life Studio, 33 Union Sq, Somerville, MA.
Holiday Luncheon & Sled Rides!
Tue 12/27 – Thu 12/29
Someday I’ve got to visit this museum, which continually holds interesting events. This one has a bonfore, snowshoe … 603-323-7591.58 Cleveland Hill Road, Tamworth, NH.
Oy Oy Oy
Boston Common Grand Menorah Lighting
Tue 12/20
I worked hard to find some Hanukkah events as well. This menorah lighting on Boston Common goes completely undescribed. Last y… Boston Common near Park St. Subway, Boston, MA.
Brookline Public Menorah Lighting
Tue 12/20
This one comes with donuts and chocolate gelt. 5:15pm. Beacon St at Pleasant St, Brookline, MA.
Canton Chanukah Wonderland
Sun 12/25
Now this is the Chanukah event to go to! They’ll have latkes, donuts, a magician and ventriloquist, a moon bounce, menorah lighting, and… Canton High School, 900 Washington St, Canton, MA.
Chanukah Celebration in West Springfield
Tue 12/20
I’ve looked and looked for Chanukah events that don’t take place in a synagogue, but there are damn few of them that I could find. T… Elm Street Common, West Springfield, MA.
Menorah Lighting on Needham Town Common
Wed 12/21
And this one also features Gelt. What is Gelt? Well, it also features donuts. 6pm. Needham Town Common, Needham, MA.
Also Fun
Xmas Day Alternatives: Movies, Chinese Restaurants, and a few Bars
Sun 12/25
On Christmas Day itself, movie theatres and video rental shops may be open. Restaurants are closed by law but a few … Various Locations, Boston, MA.
Museums Open Dec 24 or Dec 26
Sat 12/24 – Fri 12/30
Plenty of museums only take Christmas Day off. See Concord Museum, http://concordmuseum.org; DeCordova Sculpture Museum, http://decordova.or… Various Locations, Boston Area.
New Years’s Jam at Earthdance
Tue 12/27 – Sat 1/1
They claim this all-weekend dance festival sells out, so buy early. It’s an off-beat way to spend New Years. 413-634-5678.Plainfield, MA.
Performance
The Merry Wives of Windsor
Wed 12/7 – Sat 1/1
If you’re a little hesitant to see Shakespeare, this comedy will be very accessible, with physical gags, sharp wit, and the spir… Davis Square Theatre, 255 Elm St, Somerville, MA.
Little Black Topsy and the Magical White Fairy Soap
Mon 12/19
Part theater, part performance art, this story about beauty, femininity, and race tells of Little Black Topsy’s journey thr… Oberon, 2 Arrow Street, Cambridge, MA.
| Holiday Lights & Santa Events | grade | Mon 12/19 | Tue 12/20 | Wed 12/21 | Thu 12/22 | Fri 12/23 | Sat 12/24 | Sun 12/25 | Mon 12/26 |
| Stone Zoo’s ZoolightsStoneham, MA | B- | M | T | W | R | F | S | M | |
| Holiday LandscapesStoneham, MA
It’s a private home but a really expansive lights display, with lights that flash in rhythm to music broadcast over an FM transmitter.
83 Franklin St 
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| Petting Zoo in front of Seasons Four Furniture StoreLexington, MA
This is a merchant event with a petting zoo, Santa, elmo, face painting, singers, balloon animals, etc. I called and they couldn’t be bothered to give me the dates, so this is my best guess.
1265 Massachusetts Avenue, 781-861-1200. facebook
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| Millis WonderlandMillis, MA
This is a private home, not a commercial “attraction”, but good. Slowest nights are Tuesday-Thursday. 2011: 6-10pm.
60 Causeway Street
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| Edaville Railroad’s Christmas Festival of LightsCarver, MA
The biggest and best “holiday lights” display in New England is quite non-religious, with Santa letting kids sit on his lap but also plenty of generic fare like Frosty the Snowman and a tip of the hat to Hannukah. They have a train ride, ferris wheel, carousel, and other rides, with 7 million lights. Tons of fun even for adults! 2011: Mon-Fri 4-9pm, Sat-Sun 2-9pm.
Pine Street, 877-EDAVILLE. twitter facebook
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A+ | M | T | W | R | F | S | M | |
| Enchanted Village at Jordan’s FurnitureAvon, MA | ? | M | T | W | R | F | S | ||
| La Salette Shrine Festival of LightsAttleboro, MA
2011: 5-9pm. Very religious: it’s a shrine. But I’ve been and it was nice anyway. Over 300,000 lights covering 10 acres. Trolley rides Fri-Sun.
947 Park Street, 508-222-5410.
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B+ | M | T | W | R | F | S | S | M |
| Springfield’s Bright Night at Forest ParkSpringfield, MA
2011: Sun-Thu, 5-9pm, Fri-Sun, 5-11pm. 550,000 lights. Great! 2nd best to Edaville. Check out the Springfield Museums or zoo (open during school holidays in Dec) while you’re there.
Rt 83, 413-733-3800. facebook
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A | M | T | W | R | F | S | S | M |
| Santa’s HouseWest Springfield, MA
2011: Mon-Fri 5:30-7:30pm. Sat & Sun 2:30-4pm, 5:30-7:30pm.
Mittineague Park
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| Look Park’s Winter WonderlandFlorence, MA
Hayrides, night lights, zoo. 39,000 bulbs. 2011: 4-9pm. Breakfast with Santa 12/3.
300 North Main Street, 413.584.5457. facebook
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| Lighted Winter Wonderland & Santas Big Party at Charmingfare FarmCandia, NH | ? | W | R | F | S | ||||
| Gift of Lights at New Hampshire Motor SpeedwayLoudon, NH | ? | M | T | W | R | F | S | S | M |
| La Salette Shrine & CenterEnfield, NH
Another very religious site has 45,000 evening lights spread across 30 acres. Here’s the idea. Two kids said they saw the Virgin Mary, and the parents based an entire church on that. And I couldn’t even get away with “the dog ate my homework”! 2011: 5-9pm except opening celebration 11/26.
, 603-632-7087.
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B | M | T | W | R | F | S | M | |
| Holiday Light FantasiaHartford, CT
You drive through this one. 2011: Sun-Thu 6-9pm, Fri-Sat 6-10pm.
1130 Maple Ave, 860-742-2267.
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| Fantasy of LightsNew Haven, CT
Benefits the Easter Seals. Was not able to confirm this is their 2009, not 2008, calendar. Open nightly.
Light House Point Park, 2 Lighthouse Road, 203-777-2000.
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| WinterFest at Connecticut Trolley MuseumEast Windsor, CT
Trolley ride through holiday lights, sing-along carols and meet Santa. 2011: 5-9pm.
58 North Road, 860-627-6540.
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| Festival of Silver Lights at Hubbard ParkMeriden, CT
Dawn to dusk. No admission, just you drive through this decorated park anytime.
Hubbard Park, 203-630-4259.
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| Christmas by the SeaMystic, CT | ? | R | F | S | |||||
| Lantern Light ToursMystic, CT | ? | F | M | ||||||
| Lights On LovleyPlantsville, CT | ? | M | T | W | R | F | S | S | M |